Biologics: Targets & Therapy (Jul 2021)
Stem Cell Therapy for Retinal Degeneration: The Evidence to Date
Abstract
Amit Sharma, Bithiah Grace Jaganathan Stem Cells and Cancer Biology Research Group, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, IndiaCorrespondence: Bithiah Grace JaganathanStem Cells and Cancer Biology Research Group, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, IndiaTel +91 361 258 2219Email [email protected]: There is a rise in the number of people who have vision loss due to retinal diseases, and conventional therapies for treating retinal degeneration fail to repair and regenerate the damaged retina. Several studies in animal models and human trials have explored the use of stem cells to repair the retinal tissue to improve visual acuity. In addition to the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), stem cell therapies were used to treat genetic diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Stargardt’s disease, characterized by gradual loss of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have shown promising results in improving retinal function in various preclinical models of retinal degeneration and clinical studies without any severe side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were utilized to treat optic neuropathy, RP, DR, and glaucoma with positive clinical outcomes. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical evidence of stem cell therapy and current limitations in utilizing stem cells for retinal degeneration.Keywords: retinal degeneration, retinal pigment epithelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, retinitis pigmentosa
